Winter maintenance, snow removal, winter slipperiness, use of de-icing materials and their environmental impact

Introduction. One of the most important road works is road maintenance work, which includes technical supervision of the road, road structures and right-of-way for timely detection and elimination of defects, ensuring the operation of road elements, including artificial structures, in different periods of the year, in particular, in the winter period, keeping them in proper operating condition, and others. Problem statement. The performance of works on winter maintenance, namely the use of methods of combating snow drifts, elimination of winter slipperiness, has both a positive and a negative impact on the environment, which is due to the use of technical salt as one of the methods of ice prevention and elimination. Such melting anti-icing material accelerates the destruction of the road surface, reduces productivity, pollutes the soil and water bodies. Purpose. Review of the main road works performed by road enterprises during the winter maintenance of highways and their consequences for the condition of the road surface, right-of-way, soil and water bodies. Analysis of the experience of other countries regarding ecological approaches aimed at the winter maintenance of highways, taking into account the consequences for the ecosystem.